14 DAY TRIAL // 
DiscStorm is a video game that initially seems very simple and lacking in imagination but then reveals some interesting ideas and a surprising difficulty level, and a while after that, it becomes too repetitive for its own good and fails to find a way to spice up the mechanics that are introduced.
Developer XMPT has created a title that understands some of the core impulses of players, encouraging them to master a simple set of ideas and to try and execute their plans as close to perfection as possible.
The story of DiscStorm is very simple and sees gamers choosing from an array of characters who are experts at throwing discs, which in this universe have the power to kill a wide variety of enemies, and are then quickly trained in the finer points of movement and combat by an elderly woman who is a little disdainful of their skill.
Once that's done, gamers can explore a variety of levels, each with a very different team, and try to get to the end boss in order to unlock the next one.
XMPT is taking gamers to space, the bottom of the ocean, a jungle and other interesting locations, and the development team has clearly put some thought into the design and enemies.
DiscStorm is based on very simple and easy to grasp gameplay ideas: movement equals life and solid disc throwing equals death for enemies.
The character that the player controls can move very fast across the battlefield and has three powerful discs for offensive operations, which can be thrown in any direction and interact with both enemies and other elements of the level before they stop moving.
There are ways to pluck them from the air while they still move, although that tends to be low on the list of priorities, and gamers also have the option to deflect the throws of their enemies and to dash quickly across the level when they no longer hold a weapon.
Using this set of tools, DiscStorm players will have to find a way to deal with a wide variety of enemies, including straight-up zombies and enemy throwers that can also withstand attacks.
“Each single-player level also includes three boss fights, two of them against the same enemy with changed characteristics and a final once against a more powerful creature.”
Players will die a lot in DiscStorm, but there's a good checkpoint system that tends to make it easy to make progress and see the final boss of each level if not necessarily defeat him.
Even on the PC, the game is best enjoyed using a controller, which makes the mix of movement and targeting much easier to handle in efficient ways.
One of the biggest problems is that there's no variety linked to the characters and their costumes, and the developers have not tried to find ways to offer small surprises to justify the time investment.
DiscStorm uses a very old school art style, clearly designed to capture the atmosphere of the 90s arcade games that many members of its potential audience played for long periods of time.
Everything is blocky and filled with color and the bosses all have clear personalities that are transmitted using very limited means, and even in the middle of a very complicated battle, gamers have the visual cues to know what types of enemies they are facing and how they should proceed.
The sound design for DiscStorm is inspired, with chiptune tracks that will bring back a lot of memories for older gamers and will also serve as the perfect way to underline the cool battle moments that can happen.
DiscStorm is a title that naturally focuses as much on multiplayer as on single-player action and matches, regardless of the mode used, offers frantic and engaging affairs, with players shooting out their discs fast and then trying to find ways to pick them up faster than their enemies do.
The biggest problem with the game is that the levels quickly start to feel too small and the action too frantic.
I would have liked for XMPT to offer at least an option to choose bigger arenas, which would have encouraged more tactical thinking and less reliance on simple adrenaline and reflexes.
The Good
- Simple core mechanics
- Fast action with some impressive skill moments
The Bad
- Limited variety
- Can become too confusing
Conclusion
But the experience is much too repetitive when it comes to the single-player element and there's no real story to speak of.
The multiplayer is much better, but it's unclear whether a solid community will develop over time to keep the title alive.
DiscStorm is a sign that there's space to try and revive some old school mechanics, with a focus on repetitive action and skill, but the resulting experience needs to have innovation that can break up the monotony.
